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30 x 40 inch M8 Prints


davidada

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Today I also had the fortunate opportunity to enjoy a wonderful visit with David Adamson. We first chatted about the M8 and I had the chance to finally hold one in my own hands. Just three months ago, when nothing sure was known about what the M8 would look like, I would have been willing to part with portions of my anatomy to have had this experience. And even now, it was a thrill.

 

In David's studio, I recognized immediately some of the large format prints that were displayed at the beginning of this thread. While outdoor grunge scenes lacking people are not my preferred choice of subject, I was stunned by the quality, detail, intensity of color rendition that David was able to extract from the M8 files. Seeing his photos in reality, as opposed to on my computer screen, I was now able to appreciate their true artistic merit--which runs parallel with their extraordinary technical merit. Breathtaking!

 

When he says that the M8 produces output that compares well with MF, given what I saw today, I will take him at his word. He proposed that M8 shooters consider having him render a sample file to prove the point, and I intend to take him up on it!

 

Thank you, David!

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Guest guy_mancuso

To be really honest i have no issues with a little commercialism around here as long as it is not repetitive in every post or more important actually pretains to in this case digital. like let's say Jim at Brightscreen that has cool parts for DMR users or someone made a leather strap for the M8 . Stuff like this is valuable information for folks that may need some thing specific of course this is a leica sponsored site so it is not my place to say and just my opinion , which can be ignored also. LOL

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Thanks David for alll the posts and information.

 

I have actually found great value in all of the posts here (except some unfortunate misunderstandings about credentials and ego, which seem to have been cleared up.)

 

David posted his honest impressions, and others have made interesting posts about comparisons of smaller format vs. MF and above. What also strikes me is that there is a difference between absolute resolution and perception of image quality. It seems quite possible that 2 prints from different cameras (whatever the model or format) could look roughly equivalent in quality and pop to 99% of viewers, yet might have differences in absolute resolution or other measurable parameters. There is also variables like dynamic range, etc. (which would seem to favor film, but no matter). I would tend to doubt that the M8 can match the absolute image quality of a critically prepared MF shot. But that's not to say that I might not draw the same conclusions as David if I saw some comparison prints. Especially since I think subject matter will have a lot to do with this too.

 

But in any case, I think an important lesson is to always seek to judge with your own eyes. And in general avoid most blanket statements (which strictly speaking David wasn't really making.)

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I tend to agree, one has to understand that all films are not equal ie. subject matter , lighting, iso, processing and final printing all make demands on the source.

What I am seeing is a much shorter path to this via M8 files shot at 160 iso, in that they really do print down at the size I specified as well as MF film scans.

I know this seems incorrect given the sensor film size, however, the prints themselves stand as objective artifacts.

I print from many medium format film stock a lot of Annie Liebovitz shot on the mamiya 7 and yet I prefer the look of my processed M8 files, however , I have printed Annies up to 6 by 8 feet, and I do not think the M8 would allow this, so what we are talking about is a print size of 30 by 40 inches and then we have a direct comparison to an MF printed that size and the M8 totally holds up.

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The museo silver rag i the closest paper I have used to silver gelatin type papers, it prints very good, good saturation,dmax and detail.

I beta tested it and the only problem I found was in quality control - tiny flecks of dust were embedded in the paper at random intervals, I have not tried the production version, I will call them Monday and get some .

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The museo silver rag i the closest paper I have used to silver gelatin type papers, it prints very good, good saturation,dmax and detail.

I beta tested it and the only problem I found was in quality control - tiny flecks of dust were embedded in the paper at random intervals, I have not tried the production version, I will call them Monday and get some .

 

Thanks David - I sent you an email.

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Have you ever compared it to Innova HiGloss F-Type ? or HM FineArt Pearl ?

 

thanks

The silver rag has much more of a gloss that sems embedded in the substrate as opposed to a coating, The pearl is a lovely paper with much less of a gloss- more of a sheen,all of Christenberry's old brownie pictures are printed on the pearl, I did not like the innova at all although the innova air dries matt is great!

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Thanks a lot, so I will have to try the other two ^^

 

Right now I'm only using the Innova and I LOVE the results, but the main thing that is bothering me, that I get a lot of bad prints on my R2400. I mean scratches on the paper or dust on it wichs sticks there...

 

I never have these problems, with other paperes, HM PhotoRAG, Ilford Pearl, Epson glossy, or HM German Eching...

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The silver rag has much more of a gloss that sems embedded in the substrate as opposed to a coating, The pearl is a lovely paper with much less of a gloss- more of a sheen,all of Christenberry's old brownie pictures are printed on the pearl, I did not like the innova at all although the innova air dries matt is great!

David, have you tried these papers with the 9600 (listed in your services pdf) or only the 9800? I ask as I have the Epson 4000 not the 4800 and I understand these papers are best optimized for the 800 series.

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

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David, have you tried these papers with the 9600 (listed in your services pdf) or only the 9800? I ask as I have the Epson 4000 not the 4800 and I understand these papers are best optimized for the 800 series.

 

Thanks,

 

Mike

 

Don't want to speak for David, but the Fine Art Pearl and Museo Silver Rag print wonderfully on my proofing 4000 w/ ImagePrint. Probably not as dynamic as the K3 set, but certainly the best I've used to date.

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